Media

German media firm, Kinowelt, is seeking to broadcast football league games live in cinemas from August.

The European Commission is today expected to approve the DM2.9bn tie-up between UK and German pay-TV groups, BSkyB and Premiere World, reports The Financial Times.

The future of the British Open squash championships, which came near being abandoned more than once in the last few years because of the scarcity of sponsors, has been made secure by a deal between the Squash Rackets Association and Fablon Investments.

Microsoft is poised to step up its positioning in digital television by joining forces with NDS, which supplies software for pay-TV operators.

BSkyB has signed a long-term agreement with Tottenham Hotspur to design, develop and maintain the club?s Internet site.

ESPN Star Sports has secured an exclusive cable and satellite deal with the ATP Tour for the new Tennis Masters Series, previously known as the Mercedes Super 9 Series and the Tennis Masters Cup for the 2000 though 2002 seasons.

International Olympic Committee money man Dick Pound has launched an extraordinary attack on Sydney Games chief Michael Knight, accusing him of consistently underselling the success of his own Olympics.

SFX Entertainment and XM Satellite Radio have announced an exclusive sponsorship deal that will introduce XM?s new band of national, digital radio to the millions who attend SFX?s more than 24,000 events annually.

Broadband Sports has named Marla Messing, the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup President and CEO, as vice president of partner marketing, effective Feb. 7, 2000.

Channel 4 is set to announce a deal of approximatley #122m with the UK?s top 12 racecourses for broadcasting rights over the next seven years.

Award-winning US advertising agency, Leo Burnett, has resigned the Fila USA account, citing "philosophical differences," an agency representative said.

English Premier League club Derby County has emerged as the latest club to be the target of BSkyB, the satellite broadcaster which already has stakes in both Manchester United and Leeds Sporting, the owner of Leeds United.

The BBC have secured exclusive rights to Great Britain's Davis Cup matches for the next four years.

Sportsworld Media, the sports television and events management group will be looking to South America to add to its recent acquisitions, as it announced its preliminary results for the 14 month period ended June 30.

Tetley?s Bitter has signed a deal with UK commercial radio station Talk Radio to sponsor its Rugby World Cup coverage.

Former IMG joint head of football, Paul Smith, has joined Sportal, the sport media organisation, to head SportalAsia.